Stabilizer unit for mobile crane apparatus and the like



Jan. 4, 1966 c. H. BUTCHER 3,227,287

STABILIZER UNIT FOR MOBILE CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2i; USE

v Emmi ll T nplw uunmlfllllllllllml INgi INVENTOR c z es BUTCHER.

I ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 c. H. BUTCHER 3,227,287

STABILIZER UNIT FOR MOBILE CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/vvz-wrae CHARLEs H. Buw-cusz ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 c. H. BUTCHER STABILIZER UNIT FOR MOBILE CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 b9 Wm \0\ mm C. H. BUTCHER Jan. 4, 1966 STABILIZER UNIT FOR MOBILE CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 WW WP Wm in s NAWWPP 4..

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0 INVENTOR m CHARLE$ \--\-Burcuea C. H. BUTCHER Jan. 4, 1966 STABILIZER UNIT FOR MOBILE CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United St e P o J This invention relates" to 1 materiallhandlihg apparatus andirioreparticularly to astabili apparatus andthelike. I (In rnost convehtionalcrane parajtus the loads calfr ied" by the boom often brovide ai considerable overturnirig moment; which requires additional sunpdi'b than the support normally provided by the vehicleuponvvhicb the crane is supported. In thepi ior art, ithas beenthe practic e" to provide additional stabilization for the been by the ofvarious outrigger assemblie assemblies generally co-nsist'otlater lyeitending nie'nifb'ers having means forengaging support surface'exter-ior of are vehicle. Most of s'i' ch to be hiked in a ipart-icu ar-i locationi: Whenever it desired to mbveth c'ra'rie apparatus 101a nwloc'asembliesg however; are 1 outrigger asseniiblyiprior tb procceding With an'y-lift ing W abbaratushavingnovel stabilization rrieans.

apparatus having a noyel stabilizatibn rr earis- Wliiclti will provide sufficient stabilizatidn m "pei'inif the "apparatus to carry heavy loads whenthe apparatus is movedfrom one 'lFii aiioi lto aI her, it i lioyel stabilizationunit for afrnobile crane apparatuswand the like Which will provide silfficint Stabilization for the an ar atus to permit the apparatus" to carry heavv loads When' the apparatusisbeing tiirn'ed i A sen further object hi this "invention" is to provide a jfA nother object-"ofthi's invention is to *provideanovel stabilization unit for a mobile "crane apparatus which can readily be moved into a positioh to provide Stabilization "for the apparatus and easily adjusted in "position to perniit the apparatus to be moved while carrying heavyloads. i

novel stabilization unit for crane apparatus and the like, v/h'ich is combarativeli simple in construction, is simple to operate, and relatively inexpensive to manufactures Gtlier ob jects "aiid advantages es the present i invention Will-become more apparenttothoseipersonsskilled in the art, theiollowingdescriptionfivhen taken in conjunc- "tionlwith the aecdinpahyihg" ajwings'g 'whereinaf 1 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an eni-bedi the; iiiye tion, portions thereof broken away vvnflnfFIGURE 11;animati gipon ons er th vehicle iifioii,Whlchtheuhit is mo n ed in "brolgeriflines, rid illussang the unit iii" an extended position; al a; in roken lines;

illustrated in having portions therebf :broken away? i a 1 FIGURE 2 isa top pram View ofthe stabilization uiiit ti Patented 4,

FIGURE/5 is a cross sectional view taken alongline 5 5 in FIGURE i-having a portion thereof broken away; FIGURE 6 is 'an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along; line6-6inFIGURE5; i

FIGURE 7 isa cr oss sectional view taken along line 7 -"-7"inFIGURE'6; f FIGURES is'an enlarged cross-sectional View taken alongfline il sinfFIGUREBj I FIGURE 9 is across-sectional=view' taken along line 9"-9 in-*FIGURE 3, having a portionfthereof' broken away? "1: w 11H FIGURE is an exploded view of aniend portion=of the"stabilization unit 1Inhccdrdancewiththe broad aspects of the present ine vention, there-isprovid'ed a stabilization unit for a mobile craiie' apparatus and the like; generally comprising laterallyand horizontally extensible members mounted on the apparatus, wheeled units engageable with a :supportvsurfiace exterior of the apparatus mounted'-on;the extensible members and fluid actuated m'eans' mounted vonr the ex tensible"mernbers for displacing.selectively the wheeled units vertically/into and outer engagement withstheex teriorsupport surfaces W Referring to the drawings, there is shownthehpreferred embodiment of'th'e present invention. FIGURE 1 illus 'trate's a perspective: view iof the assembled unit, wherein there is provided a vehiclei'29, having a-vehicle cab 21 mounted on the frontend'of the vehicle chassis 22- and a crane 23 rotatably mounteduoncthe vehicleychassistrearr Ward of the cab2 1. 1 Thecrane-23 generally cornprisesa crane ca'n '24-,a boo-mr25 pivotally connected to the crane cab and a suitable hoistxmechanism'. '26. The vehicle chassis? 2211 is supp orted on suitable wheeled: units 27 in the 'conven tional manner: "Also mounted? onthe rvehicle chassis 22lis a stabilizationunit -28. '7 1 pm" Referringto'FIGURES2,,through 4, the stabilization unit 28 is providedrwith a pair of longitudinally spaced; transversely disposed housing; members 29 and;30 ,,which are rigidly secured to the! underside of a center frame mem ber '31 -oiivth :vehicle chassis. ::'The housing members 29 "andcStl areudisposed on either side of'thewheeled units 27? supporting the. vehicle chassis,,and are rigidly secured to the center frame irnember 31 by, means of bracing-members 32; 33;34and- 35.1 The housing member 29 is'generally rectangular ;.in: cross-section, having a. top wall 35 arbottomrwall 37,:side Wallsv38; and 3;;9, a nd a center partition wall 40; disposed parallel to the side walls 38 land 39 i to provide transversely extending, parallel channels or compartments 4l-and42 ;-Slidably mounted-in the transvcrselchannelsA-land 42 .;are extensible beam members 43 and 544 which! areadaptedl to be rnov ed l aterally with respect Jco the=.centerline of the vehicle Similarly the housing mernberfitl is provided with a top wail 45, a bottom Wall 46, side walls 47 and 48, and a center partition Wall 5 49 Ifwhich provides a pair of transversely extending paraliel channels or; compartments Siland 51. The housinglmemberfifl'is p I'OVlClQdWVlilfl fipall of extensible .beam members 52 and 153, which are adapted for ;sliding mOVIIl6lfltWlthiIlYilIG channels Slpand 50 r (1-1Rigidly secured to, the outward end of each of thee xtensible,bearn mernbers43, 44, 52 and fi3 isa fluid actuated device 54. The fluid actuateditdevices operatively inter; connect a pair ofilongitudinally extendingoutrigger been; members 55 and 561m the ends of the extensible, beam inemoers. lEa'chof the outrigger beam members 55 and 56-areilprovided With wheeledmitsiSTm uited on the any other suitable support; surface exterior qf the vehicle} The fluid actuated ides/ices are best illustratedfin FIG;-

URES 8 and 10 and I generally comprisea housingmernfber 61, including an upstanding wall 62 mounted on the end of an extensible beam member and a bottom wall 63 having a circular opening 64 provided therein. Mounted within the housing member 58 is a fluid cylinder 65 which is received through the opening 64 in the housing member 58 and having an annular flange portion 66, which is adapted to be secured to the bottom wall 63 of the housing member 53, by means of suitable bolts 67. Slidably mounted within the cylinder 65 is a piston 68 having a head portion 69 and a stem portion 70 which extends downwardly through a bottom opening in the cylindrical member 65. The cylinder member 65 is provided with a pair of fluid supply lines 71 and 72 which communicate with opposite sides of the piston head 69 and extend through an opening 73 in the side wall 59 of the device. As best seen in FIGURE 8, the housing member 59 is provided with a hood member 74, which substantially covers the exterior ends of the fluid supply lines 71 and 72. It will be appreciated that the exterior ends of the fluid supply lines 71 and 72 are adapted to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure with suitable controls, whereby the piston member 68 may be actuated axially in the conventional manner. It further is contemplated that suitable controls will be provided, so that each of the fluid actuated devices 54 may be operated selectively. Each of the piston stems 70 is provided with a rounded lower end as at 75, and an annular recess 76.

Referring to FIGURES 5 through 8 and 10, each of the outrigger beam members 55 and 56 is substantially elongated and has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration for the greater portion of its length. The beam members may be of any suitable construction, although box beams are preferred. As best illustrated in FIG- URE 6, the end portions of the beam members are provided with axle members 77 on which there are mounted a pair of wheels 78. Bearing sleeves 79 are mounted on the axle member 77 and suitable lubricating fittings 80 are provided on the wheels for lubricating the bearing sleeves. The wheels are suitably retained on the axle member 77 by means of a retaining ring 81, which engages the hub portion 82 of the wheel and a pin 83 which is inserted in an opening through the axle member.

Adjacent each of the wheel units 57, each beam member is provided with a recess 84 in the upper surface of the beam member. As best illustrated in FIGURE 7, the bottom surface 85 of the recess is provided with an arcuate recess 86, which is adapted to seat the rounded end portion 75 of the piston stem 70. The end portion of the piston stem is retained in engagement in the arcuate recess 06 by means of a pair of transversely extending keeper plates 87 and 88, which are received within the annular recess 76 in the lower end of the piston stem 70, and which are rigidly secured by means of suitable bolts 89 to a pair of longitudinanlly extending, spaced plates 90 and 91 which bridge the sloped surfaces 92 and 93 of the recess 84. Preferably, the plates 90 and 91 are welded to the beam members.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, the extensible beam members 44 and 43 are moved laterally relative to the centerline of the vehicle by means of a pair of fluid actuated devices 94 and 95. The fluid actuated device 94 comprises a fluid cylinder 96 pivotally connected to a bracket member 97 mounted on an upstanding wall 98 of an open-ended housing member 98a secured to the housing member 29, and a piston member 99 which is pivotally connected to a rearwardly extending bracket member 100 mounted on the housing member 58 secured to the extensible beam member 44. Similarly, the fluid actuated device comprises a fluid cylinder 101 which is pivotally connected to a bracket member 102 mounted on the upstanding wall 98, and a piston member 103 which is pivotally connected to the upstanding plate member 61 of the housing member 58 secured to the extensible beam member 43. The cylinders 96 and 101 are provided with suitable fluid supply lines 104, 105, 106 and 107, which are connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure, having suitable controls for selectively actuating the piston members 99 and 103 to move the beam members 44 and 43 laterally.

The unit also is provided with a second pair of fluid actuated devices 108 and 109 which interconnect the housing member 30 and the housing members 58 secured to the ends of extensible beam members 52 and 53. The fluid actuated devices 103 and 109 also are connected to a source of fluid under pressure, having suitable controls for actuating the piston members thereof selectively to move the extensible beam members 52 and 53 laterally. The operation of the fluid actuated devices 94 and 108 is coordinated so that the extensible beam members 44 and 52 are moved in unison to extend the outrigger beam member 55 interconnecting the ends thereof. Similarly, the operation of the fluid actuated devices 95 and 109 is coordinated to move the outrigger beam member 56 outwardly to selected extended positions.

The operation of the stabilization unit is as follows. After the crane apparatus has been positioned, the outrigger beam members 55 and 56 are moved to the extended position, either individually or simultaneously by actuating the fluid actuated devices 94, 95, 108 and 109. When the outrigger beam members 55 and 56 are in position, the fluid devices 54 are actuated so that the outrigger beam members 55 and 56 are moved downwardly until the wheeled units 57 engage the ground or any other support surface exterior of the vehicle. Whenever it becomes necessary to move the crane apparatus while a load is being carried by the boom, the vehicle can be moved without disturbing the position of the outrigger beam members 55 and 56. It will be appreciated that when moving the vehicle, the wheeled units 57 will permit the entire apparatus to be moved without retracting the stabilization unit.

It further will be appreciated that the outrigger beam members 55 and 56 can be independently adjusted vertically to compensate for sloping or uneven terrain. Also, it would be possible to operate the fluid devices mounted on the ends of the extensible beam members 52 and 53 to lift the forwardly disposed wheeled units to permit the entire apparatus to be turned when it is desirable to move to a new position while the crane is carrying a load. During such turning maneuvers it will be appreciated that a substantial amount of stabilization is maintained by means of the rearwardly disposed wheeled units being in positive engagement with ground surface.

The stabilization unit is retracted from its extended position similarly by reversing the aforementioned operation. The fluid devices 54 are suitably actuated to lift the outrigger beam members 55 and 56 and the fluid devices 94, 101, 108 and 109 are actuated to move the outrigger beam members inwardly. The stabilization unit is then held clear of the ground surface or any of the operating mechanisms of the crane apparatus, to permit the vehicle to be operated without any interference.

The stabilization unit can be constructed by any suitable method, utilizing any suitable materials. It is preferred, however, that the unit be of a welded construction.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stabilizer unit for a mobile crane apparatus and the like comprising a pair of laterally and horizontally extensible members mounted on each side of said apparatus, longitudinally disposed means mounted on the ends of said extensible members, wheeled units engageable with a support surface exterior of said apparatus mounted on the ends of said longitudinally disposed means, first fluid actuated means for laterally displacing said extensible members and second fluid actuated means operative- 1y interconnecting the ends of said extensible members and the ends of said longitudinally disposed means adjacent said wheeled units for displacing selectively said wheeled units vertically into and out of engagement with said support surface.

2. A stabilizer unit for a mobile crane apparatus and the like comprising a pair of housings mounted on said apparatus each having a pair of adjacent transversely disposed channels, each housing having a pair of transversely extensible beams mounted for transverse movement in said channels, first fluid actuated means mounted on said apparatus for displacing said extensible beams transversely, longitudinally disposed Outriggers having the ends thereof mounted on the ends of said extensible beams, each of said outriggers having wheeled units mounted on the ends thereof engageable with a support surface exterior of said apparatus, second fluid actuated means mounted on the ends of said extensible beams operatively connected to the ends of said outriggers for displacing selectively said wheeled units vertically into and out of engagement with said support surface.

3. A support unit for a vehicle mounted crane apparatus and the like comprising a support frame mounted on said vehicle for mounting said crane apparatus, a pair of laterally and horizontally extensible members mounted on each side of said vehicle, longitudinally disposed means mounted on the ends of said extensible members, Wheeled units engageable with a support surface exterior of said apparatus mounted on the ends of said longitudinally disposed means, first fluid actuated means for laterally displacing said extensible members and second fluid actuated means operatively interconnecting the ends of said extensible members and the ends of said longitudinal means adjacent said Wheeled units for displacing selectively said wheeled units vertically into and out of engagement with said support surface.

4. A support unit for a vehicle mounted crane apparatus and the like comprising a support frame mounted on said vehicle for mounting said crane apparatus, a pair of housings mounted on said vehicle each having a pair of transversely disposed channels, each housing having a pair of transversely extensible beams mounted for transverse movement in said channels, first fluid actuated means mounted on said vehicle for displacing said extensible beams transversely, longitudinally disposed outrig-gers having the ends thereof mounted on the ends of said extensible beams, each of said outriggers having wheeled units mounted on the ends thereof engageable with a support surface exterior of said vehicle, second fluid actuated means mounted on the ends of said extensible beams operatively interconnected to the ends of said outriggers adjacent said Wheeled units for displacing selectively said wheeled units vertically into and out of engagement with said support surface.

5. A mobile crane apparatus comprising a vehicle, a crane assembly mounted on said vehicle, a pair of laterally and horizontally extensible members mounted on each side of said vehicle, longitudinally disposed means mounted on the ends of said extensible members, wheeled units engageable with a support surface exterior of said apparatus mounted on the ends of said longitudinally disposed means, first fluid actuated means for laterally displacing said extensible members and second fluid actuate-d means operatively interconnecting the ends of said extensible members and the ends of said longitudinally disposed members adjacent said wheeled units for displacing selectively said wheeled units vertically into and out of engagement with said support surface.

6. A mobile crane apparatus comprising a vehicle, a crane assembly mounted on said vehicle, a pair of housings mounted on said apparatus each having a pair of adjacent transversely disposed channels, each housing having a pair of transversely extensible beams mounted for transverse movement in said channels, first fluid actuated means mounted on said vehicle for displacing said extensible beams transversely, longitudinally disposed outriggers having the ends thereof mounted on the ends of said extensible beams, each of said Outriggers having wheeled units mounted on the ends thereof engageable with a support surface exterior of said vehicle, second fluid actuated means mounted on the ends of said extensible beams operatively connected to the ends of said outriggers for selectively displacing said wheeled units vertically into and out of engagement with said support surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,840,666 1/1932 Grundon 212- 2,663,433 12/1953 LeClair 212-145 2,929,517 3/ 1960 Phillips 212-145 2,957,592 10/1960 Thacker 212-145 2,985,318 5/1961 Nickles et al. 212-145 3,023,914 3/1962 McGuire et al. 212-145 3,073,458 1/1963 Wieschel 212-145 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

A- L. LEV NE, As s ant Ex m n 

1. A STABILIZER UNIT FOR A MOBILE CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY AND HORIZONTALLY EXTENSIBLE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID APPARATUS, LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED MEANS MOUNTED ON THE ENDS OF SAID EXTENSIBLE MEMBERS, WHEELED UNITS ENGAGEABLE WITH A SUPPORT SURFACE EXTERIOR OF SAID APPARATUS MOUNTED ON THE ENDS OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED MEANS, FIRST FLUID ACTUATED MEANS FOR LATERALLY DISPLACING SAID EXTENSIBLE MEMBERS AND SECOND FLUID ACTUATED MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID EXTENSIBLE MEMBERS AND THE ENDS OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED MEANS ADJACENT SAID WHEELED UNITS FOR DISPLACING SELECTIVELY SAID WHEELED UNITS VERTICALLY INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORT SURFACE. 